A Cornish village is to have its clock tower bell silenced overnight after complaints by one man about the noise.

Jonathon Milton recently moved to St Day, near Redruth, and said the ringing, 30 minutes, was keeping him awake at night.

Kerrier District Council said it then found the ring was 20 decibels louder than the law permitted.

But one Councillor said he could not understand the decision to "bow to the complainant".

We would consider the noise, not the clock, to be a statutory nuisance

Chris Selby, Kerrier District Council

Kerrier District Council said it had been legally forced to take action after the complaint was made.

Marine surveyor Mr Milton, who lives about 20m (66ft) away from the clock, said the ring sounded "like a scaffolding pole being dropped".

Council environmental health manager Chris Selby said noise tests carried out revealed the bell was about 20 decibels louder the standard observed by the World Health Organisation which would cause "detriment to sleep".

"We would consider the noise, not the clock, to be a statutory nuisance," Mr Selby.

He said the decision had now been taken to install a timing device to turn off the clock's ring off between 2300 and 0700.

Heritage 'preserved'

But there have been protests against the fact that one complaint has caused the clock ring to be silenced.

St Day and Lanner County Councillor Mark Kaczmarek said: "It's part of the village, the village really appreciates it, and I cannot understand it.

"The vast majority of people in village want the clock still striking. You get one person complaining and they bow to the complainant."

Mr Milton said in a statement that he was pleased with the decision for two reasons.

He said it meant that the bell would ring during the day, meaning the heritage and character of the village will be preserved but that it would also be quiet at night.